Head-locking mechanism.



J'. A. McCASK'ELL.

HEAD LOCKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. l9. 19x5.

3 SHEETS,SHEET I.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

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I. A. McCASKELL.

HEAD LOCKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. :9. 1915.

J11 sic/M i ma ma,

J. A.. McCASKELL.

HEAD LOCKING MECHANISM.

APPLICAHON FILED JAN. 19.. 1 15.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

.msrnn A. MecAsKELnor SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, nssrenon, BY MESINE Assisi?-MENTS, TO UNITED FILTERS CORPORATION, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

' HEAD-LOCKING- MECHANISM- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 19, 1915. Serial No. 3,143.

Locking Mechanisms, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention which relates to certain new and useful improvements 'inhead-closing mechanisms for all kinds of tanks or receptacles, has beenfound of great value when used in'connection with apparatus forseparatin and filtering solids of whatever nature rom liquids, thepresent invention being an improvement on and shown in con nection withthe locking mechanisms disclosed in Patents Nos. 1,015,960, dated January 30, 1912, and 1,015,961, dated January 30,1912, issued to D. J.Kelly.

The present invention consists, essentially of an improved quick-lockingmechanism employingan automatic toggle arrangement whereby the motionused in unlocking the connection between the movable head and the tankis also automatically used to positively move said head at any desireddistance from the tank,the reverse positive motion moving the head intoposition against the tank is automatically used to positively lock saidhead against the tank thereby giving a fluid tight joint between theopen end of the tank and the movable head therefor.

In the accompanying drawings forminga part of this specification and inwhich similar reference characters indicate like parts in the severalviews;

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a filter press. embodying m invention.

Fig. 24s a side elevation of the same.

Fig. a detail of a toggle mechanism to be referred to. I

Fig. 4 is a top plan view ofafilter press showing a head lockingmechanismof modified'form. I a

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an elevation showing a means for automatically controlling thelinear motion of the carriage.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged end view of the same.

. In the said former patents are disclosed arrangements for hand andhydraulically locking. the head connection between the tank and head orfilter carrier. I have found that both these arrangements are suit.-

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

able for'the purposes for which they were designed, but it has sincebeen found that in certain practice the head locking devices arepositive and that the removal of the head and its carrier from the tankor movement of same intoposition toward the tank is not positive enough.In making this movement positive, through the proper motor actuatingdevice, I have combined the unlocking and traveling motion and travelingand locking motion in such away that a thoroughly positive and mosteconomical effect is gamed, thus enabling one operator to effectivelyand'positively unlock, open,

close and lock several pressure tanks at will.

This object is attained by the use of suitable mechanism operated bymotor and transmission means combined with toggle and tripping deviceswhich I will hereinafter describe and claim.

Referring to Figs. land 2, the locking head, A, of the pressure tank, A,is, like a in previous patents, mentioned, provided with a rigid shaft,1, which extends outward from its center and axially in line with thetank, said shaft having, a screwthreaded outer end. On the shaft, 1, isslidably mounted a sleeve, 2, having ears or lugs, 2, to which arepivotally mounted the inner ends of the radially disposed lockinglevers, 3, the outer-ends of which are curved or cam-shaped and adaptedto slidably operate between suitable lugs or ears, 4, projecting fromthe front face near the periphcry of the head, suitable springs, 5,-being also preferably employed and against which the outer edges of thelevers substantially bear whereby the springs assist in maintaining thelevers against the lugs. In the foregoing respects, the levers and theirmeans of attachment do not depart materially from the substantiallysimilar parts found in the aforesaid rior patents.-

The sli ing sleeve or collar, 2, is formed with other lugs or, ears, 6,and to these are pivoted the rear ends of links, 7, the for-. ward endsof which are in turn pivoted to the rear ends of similar links, 8 and 9.The front ends of the links, 8, are pivoted to the movable cross-bar,10, and thefront ends of links, 9, are pivoted to the lugs, 11, of asuitable collar, 12, against the outer face of which bears a nut, 13,which is threaded to the outer end of the shaft, 1, and is designed toadjust the tension of the head, A, of the tank, for when the nut isrotated, it causes the lever spacing collar, 2, to move forward orbackward and in this manner the tension of head, A, against a gasketusually placed in a groove in the ring, 14, of the tank can be regulatedat will. The tension-adjusting nut, 13, is constructed and operatedsubstantially as set forth in prior patents be fore mentioned. 7 Fromthe foregoing description it will be apparent that links, 7

8 and 9, constitute a toggle-lever connection which is actuated by thecross-bar, 10, having an aperture at its center so it can pass over theshaft, 1, and nut, 13, while moving lugs, 18. As shown in Fig. 1, thedescribed arrangement of lever and links is intended for each end of thecross-bar, 10. Fixed to i the tank-supporting beams, 22, is a trippingdevice, 20, having an inclined or cam-surface, 20, which is so placed asto engage the outer end of the arm, 19, of the lever, 17

whereby the latter in passing over the incline 20, will throw the links,16 and lever, 17 out of the dead center position as indicated by dottedlines in Fig. 3, and full lines in Fig. 2.

The mechanical means shown for actuating the cross-bar, 10, and theresultant link-and-toggle locking means comprise the transmissioncables, 21, passing over the motor-propelled drums, 23, at the rear ofthe tank-carrying beams, 22, and over the sheaves, 24, at the front endof these beams. The cables are fastened to the cross-bar, 10, by meansof lugs,25, and are made adjustable by means of turnbuckles or otheradjusting devices, 26. The cross-bar, '10 is supported movably bywheels, 35, running on rails, 31.

The rear transmission drums, 23, are connected by a shaft, 27, which ispropelled by any suitable motor mounted in a suitable gear casing, 28.Uusually I choose an air or electric motor for this purpose which in itsturn is usually equipped with a valve,

' shift, or switch, so that the motor or driving mechanism can bereversed, by hand or automatically through the head, A, reaching itsultimate desired distance from the open end of the tank, A. The head, A,may be in this instance, connected similarly to the arrangement shown inthe patents herein mentioned by means of beams 29 to wheels running ontracks inside of the tank, A, and

thehead, A, itself carries a corresponding frontset'of wheels, 30,running on outer tracks, 31. head and its rigid carriage being removedat any desired distance from the tank, From the foregoing description,it. will be seen that when the head is closed and This arran ement)ermits the from the motor, tends to pull the movable cross-bar, 10,.outward from the tank head,

A, thus unfolding the links, 8 and 9 (as indicated by dotted positionFig. 1) and pulling the links, .16 and 17, into the straight dead-centerposition shown in Fig. 3. This unfolding of the links, 8 and 9, resultsat the same time in pulling the collar, 2, with the lever ends of thelocking arms, 3, along the shaft, 1, thereby causing the levers, 3, toslidably fulcrum on the lugs or bearings, 4, and thereby loosen theU-bolts,

a, and unlock the head so that the withdrawn ends of levers, 3, willclear the U-bolts, thus permitting the further linear motion of thecables, 21, to pull the head, A, and its carriage from the tank. Thiswill happen as soon as the cross-bar, 10, has reached its ultimateoutward travel relative to the head, A, by the links, 16 and 17 beingmoved into the straight, dead-center position, shown in Fig. 3. Thus thesame linear motion that has caused the cross-bar '3, because the togglesof links, 16 and 17.

being in dead-center do not permit the crossbar to move nearer the head,A, until the dead-center position is disturbed. This hapensautomatically as soon as' the head, A, 1s sufficiently near the tank, A,when the arm, 19, 'of the link, 17, (Fig. 3) comes in contact with thetripping device, 20, whereby the return motion of the carriage forces.the end of the arm, 19, up the cam or incline, 20, thus breaking thedead-center position, so that the head first comes in contact with thering, 14, of the tank, A, and the linear motion of the cables, 21, pullsthe cross-bar, 10, nearer the head thus again actuating the "toggles oflinks, 16 and 17, to cause them to assume the position dotted in Fig. 3,and shown in fulllines in Figs. 1 and 2, and firmly locking the head inplace. As soon as the links, 7 and 9, have assumed dead-center positionshown in full lines in Fig. l, the-links, 8, are at right-angles to themas dotted in Fig. 1, behind the'crossbar, 10, and the locking iscomplete and the motor is now cut-out-by hand or eitherautomatically cutout by mechanism refusing to move any farther or by any properlyadjusted lug on cables, 21, striking or coming in contact with acut-out.

It is not essential that the cross-bar. actuated toggle-levers, 7, 8 and9, should be arranged to operate as before described, nor

do I limit my invention thereto for said invention is of broader scopethan any mere arrangement of parts and it comprehends and includes anymechanism in combination with the head and traveling carrier andoperated in, conjunction with the carrier and through the motion thattends to move the head and carrier away from or toward the tank, and isdesigned for automatically unlocking the head, moving same from tank,returning same to tank, and again locking same in position. Accordingly,in Figs. 4 and 5, I show another and more simple form of mechanism forthe purposes stated. In this .modified construction, the locking levers,3, and movable collar, 2, are actuated to moveqalong the projectingshaft through the arrangement substantially as disclosed in Patent No.1,015,961, before mentioned. The shaft, H, moving the cranks, G G, whichin their turn move the toggle links, F F, thus actuating the lockingmechanism, is made to partially rotate by passing the cables, 21, aroundthe cable drums, 32, attached to the shaft, H. In

placeof the link-mechanism, 16 and 17, in-

Fig. 3, the escape catch, 33, is attached to a bearing X, and engages adisk, M, fastened rigidly to the shaft, H. .The catch, 33, is pivoted at34, and it is clear that when the same is released from the notch in thedisk, M, the latter is free to turn. It will be seen that upon movingthe head and its carrier toward the tank through the cables beingactuated by the motor device already described that the shaft, H, cannotturn in its bearing until the escape catch, 33, is released. Thisautomatically takes place when the lower end of the catch, 33 strikesthe cam tripping device, 20, already described in the previousarrangement. Through this action, the head, A, comes in contact withring, 14, at the same time the catch, 33, is released through coming in'contact with the tripping device, .20. As soon as the motion of thehead, A, is arrested by the ring, 14 "the linear motion of the cables oflugs, 25, saidcross bar being attached to passing around the drums, 32,causes the mechanism are in an unlocked position without actuating .thelocking mechanism. In this case the lower cable, 21, can be suppliedwith a lug or trip that comes in contact with a motor switch, thusreversing the motor at any moment desired and causing the carrier andhead .to move to and from the tank at will.

In Figs. 6 and 7 I illustratean automatic I carriage control mechanismwhich will be found useful in connection with the salient parts of myinvention. J

In this instance, the-transmission cable, 21, is connected to the crossbar, 10, by means the head, A, by links, substantially as heretoforeexplained' The transmission cable extends from the lug, 25, over thesheave, 24, at the front end of beams, 22, and returns below the track,31, and extends over the motor propelled drums, 23 and thence extends toa lug, 25, on the cross bar, 10, thus making a complete circuit. At anysuitable place on this cable, 21, a lug, 36, is securely fastened, saidlug being so constructed that it will engage and pass through suitablestops. 46, at the will of the operator, and. which stops are securelyfastened to the shaft, 44, at any desired distance apart to 1 5 therebyregulate the travel of the carriage.

A hand wheel, 43, fixedly secured to the shaft, 42, is designed tooperate a lever, 39, which in turn rotates the shaft, 44, in either 7direction, said lever, 39, being attached to a 11 0 boss. 40, which inturn is keyed to the shaft,

42. By pressing down on the shaft, 42, the lever, 39, rotates the shaft,and thus operates the stop, 46. p

.In Fig. 7 the operating mechanism is shown by full lines in its neutralposition,

'2'. e. the position in which the motor is stopped. Suitablecoui'iteiwveights, 47, of sufficient weight are employed to throw thestop, 46, to the right and keep it in such po- 12 0 to allow theshortening of the stroke of the would have to be pressed down by the op-V &

move, which in turn moves cross bar, 10

to 10 without moving the head. As the cable continues to travel, thehead which is connected to said cross bar by links, 16 and 17. is movedfrom A to A While the head is moving from A to A the lug,

36, has moved from 36 to 36 and during this movement of the lug, theshaft, 42,

erator in order to allow the lug, 36,.to pass through the first stop,46. Otherwise, lug, 36 would engage stop, 46, at position shown by lugat 36 andwould have pushed stop, 46, to position, 46 thus forcing lever,49, to

position, 49 and operating the four-way valve, 50, causing same toreverse the motor.

After the lug, 36 has passed through the first 'stop,46, the operatorreleases shaft, 42, and the counterweights, 47, bring it back to itsoperating position, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 7 In this position,the lug, 36, will encounter the second stop, 46, and push it to 46 Thelinear motion of shaft, 44, operates the four-way valve, 50, whichreverses the motor, causing the lug, 36, and the cross bar, 10 to returnto their original positions, 10 When the cross bar 10, reaches theposition, 10 the lug, 36, encounters the first stop, 46, pushing it to46 and again reversing the motor, cross bar, 10, together with the head,A and carriage would move backward and forward between certain limitswhichare determined by the distance a art of the stops, 46. This motionbackwar and forward of the carriage will continue until the operatorwishes to close the press or stop the carriage at the limit of itstravel from the vpress. In that case, the operator presses down theshaft, 42, thus bringing the large opening in the stop, 46, in line withthe cable, 21, so as to allow the passage of the lug, 36, to itsoriginal position. The motion of the head and carriage can. be controlled by the operator by operating wheel, 43, in the following manner:By bringing the hub, 40, on shaft, 42, in a neutral position, he canstop the motor; by turning wheel, 43, to the right he can close thepress; or by turning it to the left he can open the press. When thelug,36, is once admitted between stops, 46., it will continue automaticallyto cause the carriageto reciprocate by operating automatically thefour-Way valve, 50, by engaging stops, 46.

The foregoing is descriptive of one method of automatically operatingand con- In this manner the '7 trolling thetravel ofthe carriage betweencertainlimits. I do not, however, confine myself to the use of thisspecific mechanism as the salient features of my invention may be usedin connection with other and different forms of controlling mechanismwithout departing. from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In an apparatus of the characterdescribed, the combination with a tank or receptacle having an openendand a carrier movable to and from. the tank and provided with a headadapted to close the open end of the tank or receptacle,'and lockingmechanism between the head and the tank or receptacle, of an automaticmechanism connected to and actuating the locking mechanism, saidautomatic mechanism adapted to move the head and carrier away from ortoward the tank or receptacle in a 'plane parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the tank. a

2. In an apparatus, of the character described, the combination with atank, or reoeptacle, a removable head 'forming a closure therefor, saidhead having a shaft pro jecting outwardly from its center, a collarslidable on said shaft, and locking levers carried by the collar andhaving outer ends engageable with the tank to lock the head to the tank,of a toggle mechanism for actuating said locking levers, said togglemechanism including a movable cross-bar and connected links, means fortripping the toggle mechanismwand transmission means connected to thecross bar for moving the head to and from the tank or receptacle.

sleeve slidably mounted on the shaft, and

radially-disposed levers having inner ends pivoted to the sleeve andhaving outer ends adapted to engagefixed parts of the tank, anintermediate portion of said levers fulcruming against the head, of asecondsleeve orv collar concentric with saidshaft and separated from thefirst-named sleeve, a double series of toggle-levers between the twosleeves, other toggle-levers carried by the double series of togglelevers and a movable cross-bar to which they are in turn connected, saidcross bar being slidably supported and in its turn being connected tothe movable tank head by means. of' toggle-joints which, when in adead-center line, will permit the movement ofthe crossbar to move thehead without actuating the "'f k hg imam which when put out ofdead-center position will permit the-crossbar to actuate the lockinglevers without moving the head.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with atank or receptacle having an open end and a carrier operable to and fromthe tank or receptacle and having a head at one end adapted .to form aclosure for theopen end of the tank or receptacle, a shaftprojectingcentrally from the head, a sleeve slidably mounted on the shaft, andradially-disposed levers having inner ends pivoted to the sleeve andhaving outer ends adapted to engage ,a fixed part of the tank orreceptacle, an intermediate portion of said levers fulcruming againstthe head, of a second sleeve or collar con centric with said shaft andseparated from the first-named sleeve, a double series of toggle-leversbetween the two sleeves, other'tog-- gle-levers carried by the doubleseries oftoggle-levers and a movable cross-bar to which they are in turn'connected,'said crossbar being slidably supported and in' its turnscribed, the combination with a tank or receptacle having an open endand a carrier operable to or from the tank or receptacle having a headat one end adapted to close the open end of thetank or receptacle, ashaft projecting centrally from the head, a sleeve slidably mounted onthe shaft, and radially-disposed levers having inner ends pivoted to thesleeve and having outer ends adapted to engage a fixed part of the tank,an intermediate portion of said levers fulcruming against the head, of asecond sleeve or collar concentric with said shaft and separated fromthe first-named sleeve, a

double series of toggle-levers between'thetwo sleeves, other togglelevers carried by the double series of toggle-levers and a'm'ovablecross-bar to which they are in turn connected, said cross-bar beingslidably supported, a toggle-lever connecting the crossbar to themovable head, said last-named toggle-levers having tripping arms wherebysaid levers when in dead-center line will permitthe movement of thecross-bar to .move

' the head and carrier to and from the tank or' receptacle at willwithout-actuating'the locking levers, a tripping device, and means for I10. In apparatus of the character debringing the tripping arms incontact with the head. 7

said tripping device so that the toggles can be automatically thrown outof dead-center position to permit the cross-bar to actuate the lockinglevers without moving the head, a transmlssion means, and means for con-'nectingsaid cross-bar to the transmission means. p

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a tankor receptacle having an open end and a carrier adapted for movement inand out of the same, and provided with a head adapted to close theopen'end of the tank, of a locking mechanism between the head and thetank, a prime mover and connections controlled thereby for releasing thelocking mechanism, and means actuated by said prime mover for impartingmovement to the head'parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tankcoordinately with the release of the locking mechanlsm.

7. In apparatus of the character described,

the combination with a tank, or"receptac1e,

having an open end and a carrier adaptedfor movement in and out of thesame and" provided with a head adapted to close the open end of thetank, 'of a locking mechanism between the head and the tank, means forreleasing the locking mechanism, and

means actuated by the releasing means for movin the head relatively tothe tank, and 1n a irection axis thereof.

8. In apparatus of the character described,

the comblnation with a tank or receptacle,

parallel to the longitudinal having an open end, and a carrier adaptedfor movement in and out of the same having a head adapted to close theopenve'nd of: the tank, of a locking mechanism between the head and thetank, a toggle-mechanism for unlocking said head, a linearly-operatingmechanism for actuating the togglemechanism, and a secondtoggle-mechanism between the first toggle-mechanism and thelinearly-operating mechanism and actuated by the latter to impart linearmovement to 9. In apparatus of the character described having a tank orreceptacle, a removable head forming aclosure for one end thereof atransmission means, connections between the transmission means and saidlocking "and a locking mechanism for ,said head,

scribed, having a tank or receptacle, a. removable head forming aclosure for one end thereof and a locking mechanism for said head, atransmission means, connections between the transmission means and saidlocking mechanism for initially actuating the latter to releasethe'head, and other connections between the transmission means and saidhead for imparting a linear movement to the unlocked head, saidlast-named means including a cross-bar and toggle-levers connectedthereto and to the head and adapted when the joints thereof are out ofdeadcenter position to permit the cross bar to actuate the head lockingmechanism without moving the head. I

11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a shellor casing tant point in advance thereof, a transverse connection betweenthe saidcables,

each of said cables being attached to the head, and head locking devicesbetween the head and said transverse connection.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JASPER A. MoCASKELL.

Witnesses:

HARRY E. CORSER, R. M. Lows.

